Portuguese Coastal Way - Baiona to Santiago de Compostela - The last 115km
The second section of the spectacular Portuguese Coastal Way or Caminho da Costa starts in the elegant seaside town of Baiona, in the heart of the Rías Baixas, famous for its Albariño white wine and delicious shellfish. Visit the Monte Real castle, stroll along the port and go for a swim in the bay before you start your journey to Santiago. From Baiona, you will follow the coast towards Vigo, enjoying the views of the magnificent Illas Cíes and the bay along the way.
The Portuguese Coastal Way joins the Portuguese Way in the town of Redondela so you will continue your Camino de Santiago walk through the lovely city of Pontevedra, the spa town of Caldas de Reis, Padrón and finally Santiago de Compostela where you can claim your unique Camino passport!

When is the walk taking place?
October 10th - 17th 2015 (Saturday to Saturday)What does the Camino walk consist of?
The Camino walk will consist of 7 nights 8 days and 6 walking days of moderately demanding terrains of approximately 4- 6 hours each day. On trekking days we will wake early for breakfast and then either transfer to the trailhead or walk directly from the accommodation. We will take regular breaks to fuel-up on snacks and fluids. After a lunch stop, we continue trekking until we reach our accommodation, and we spend the evening relaxing. Every evening the ‘Camino Ways’ Head Guide will give a briefing about the following day, with information such as appropriate clothing, the topography and any ‘hot-spots’ to look out for.How much do I have to pay?
The total cost per participant is €1,950 which can be fundraised.
This includes the trip costs of €950
A minimum fundraising target of €1,000
will go directly to Cappagh Hospital Foundation
What is included?
• Flights and airport transfers
• Breakfast and Dinner
• Luggage transfer each day
• Guide included
• Holiday pack, contains: walking notes, pilgrim passports, maps
• CHF team branded gearWhat’s not included?
• Lunch
• Alcoholic drinks
• Personal expenses
• Travel Insurance
What to do next?
Have a look at the day-to-day itinerary linked here
Secure your place with a non-refundable deposit of €250
For more details please contact Mark on (01) 834 0325 or e-mail mark@chf.ieWhere will the money raised go?
All money raised from the Camino walk will go directly to fund the Rehabilitation Gym at Cappagh Hospital’s Active Rehabilitation Unit (ARU). The ethos of this unit is to help patients return to an active, confident and sociable life following a trauma or an acute medical episode.
The new customised rehabilitation gym will provide a large, dedicated space for patients to complete their physiotherapy programmes, which will help them return to a more independent life. This new facility will give the patients more space to practice their walking, participate in classes and improve their balance and strength as well as enjoying the social benefits of interaction with their fellow patients and their care team.“I was transferred to the Active Rehabilitation Unit in Cappagh following an accident where I broke my ankle. I was in the ARU for 7 months. I had surgery and a personalised physiotherapy and occupational therapy plan which was vital to get me ready to return home. Throughout my stay, the care and attention I received was excellent and the entire team at the ARU work so well together. They ensure that every patient has the very best of treatment.” (Eithne McGrane, Dublin)
To ensure this development we need to raise €200,000 this year and we desperately need support with fundraising events like this Camino walk to make it happen.

]]>http://chf.ie/news/camino-for-cappagh/feed/0Paddy Power offers a charity bet on the Irish Amputee Football team in aid of the Cappagh Hospitalhttp://chf.ie/news/paddy-power-offers-a-charity-bet-on-the-irish-amputee-football-team-in-aid-of-the-cappagh-hospital/
http://chf.ie/news/paddy-power-offers-a-charity-bet-on-the-irish-amputee-football-team-in-aid-of-the-cappagh-hospital/#commentsFri, 28 Nov 2014 14:51:53 +0000Dana Blagahttp://chf.ie/?p=812The Irish Amputee Football team jetted off today to make their debut appearance at the Amputee World Cup. Having been drawn in the group of death alongside world champions Uzbekistan, Copa America champions Brazil and Ukraine, the team’s sponsor Paddy Power have offered a €1,000 charity bet at odds of 12/1 in aid of the Cappagh Hospital Foundation for the team to advance to the second stage.

“Come on we have to be worth a tenner bet ,,, and hey!!! ,,, if you do lose your loss is Cappagh’s gain…. we hear you Paddy!” (IAFA)

Established back in 2011, the IAFA (Irish Amputee Football Association) aims to promote and develop the sport of amputee football across Ireland and provide any person with an amputation, congenital deficiency or any other limb affecting disorder the opportunity to access amputee football.

]]>http://chf.ie/news/paddy-power-offers-a-charity-bet-on-the-irish-amputee-football-team-in-aid-of-the-cappagh-hospital/feed/0Cappagh Walk Sunday October 5th 2014http://chf.ie/news/second-event/
http://chf.ie/news/second-event/#commentsMon, 08 Sep 2014 14:30:27 +0000adminhttp://chf.ie/?p=51 The Great Cappagh Walk is an annual event and has become a really wonderful and vital fundraiser for the hospital. This year , as we celebrate over a quarter of a century of supporting Ireland’s specialist orthopaedic centre, we have a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the great work of Cappagh and raise vital funding for the €1m extension to the Hospital’s Out Patients/Pre-Assessment Department.

This year, we are delighted to welcome participants of the 2014 Great Cappagh Walk to Sam’s Bar on Dublin’s Dawson Street (directly opposite The Mansion House) for registration and light refreshments before crossing to the beautiful St. Stephen’s Green to undertake our annual walk.

It’s easy to participate:

1. Collect

Get the family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to support and sponsor you.

2. Walk

Walk in Dublin

Join us at Sam’s Bar (opposite Mansion House) on Sunday October 5th. Our team will be on hand from 11am to collect your sponsorship card and offer light refreshments. Then, at 12.30pm, walk with us in the landmark St. Stephen’s Green. Cappagh’s Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons, doctors and nurses and celebrity ambassadors will be there to encourage and cheer you on. Following the Walk, return to Sam’s Bar where we will be delighted to reward you with a personalised Achievement Certificate.

Walk at home

If you cannot join us in Dublin, choose a location that suits you best. Enlist the support of your family and friends and start your walk at 12.30pm. By doing this you will be walking simultaneously with your fellow patients countrywide! Forward your sponsorship card and monies to the Foundation offices and we will ensure your personalised Achievement Certificate is mailed to you immediately.

3. Celebrate your achievement

As a token of our appreciation for your wonderful efforts, we will present each participant with a personalised Achievement Certificate, acknowledging your support of the 2014 Great Cappagh Walk. Refreshments and light entertainment will be available for all our supporters as we celebrate your outstanding fundraising efforts.

Now, more than ever, we need your support. The Great Cappagh Walk is easy to do and really enjoyable- please help us to make a real difference on October 5th.

]]>http://chf.ie/news/second-event/feed/0CHF Statement January 2014http://chf.ie/news/chf-statement-january-2014/
http://chf.ie/news/chf-statement-january-2014/#commentsTue, 11 Feb 2014 16:41:43 +0000Dana Blagahttp://chf.ie/?p=783Our mission is to improve lives and we dedicate ourselves to health and well-being. We do this by providing opportunities to give so that Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital can give more people the best possible care using first class facilities and highly innovative medical procedures.

The Foundation comprises a staff of 5 salaried employees and is governed by a Chairman and Board of Trustees. The Chairman and Board of Trustees all act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration of any kind for their services. The Foundation also has 2 patrons, Francis Brennan and Mary O’Rourke, who again act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration. Further information on the staff, Chairman and Board of the Foundation and our Patrons are available on our website www.chf.ie.

The Foundation’s main sources of income are derived primarily from the following:

Payroll Giving schemes in companies nationwide

Corporate fundraising events e.g. Golf Outing

Past-patient supported events e.g. Spring Raffle, Great Cappagh Walk

Charity collection boxes in shops and pubs in the greater Leinster area

Corporate and past-patients/friends donations

The above would account for approximately 90% of the Foundation’s income annually.

The Foundation’s salary costs are under €250,000 per annum for a staff of 5 with pension costs at less than 3% of this figure. Other costs incurred relate solely to the management of our income streams.

Disbursements made by the Foundation have always been target-specific.

We receive no government funding.

We have raised over €24m since we were established, providing funding and support to the hospital on many levels, most notably:

Sponsorship of 84 fellowships in orthopaedics

Supporting nurses in their advanced education

Funding orthopaedic research projects

Funding further education through lecturesAs well as implementing the following improvements and additions to the hospital:

2011: Purchase of new 3T MRI Scanner2008-2009: Building of new ‘state-of-the-art’ Isolation Unit2008: Upgrade of patient Home-from-home accommodation2001: Purchase of MRI Scanner2000: Upgrading and modernisation of X-Ray Department & Orthotic Unit1999: Upgrade of Main Hospital Entrance1998: Building of Visitors and Staff Car Parks1997: Building of Lady Martin Auditorium1996: New Out Patients Department1995: Upgrade of patient bathroom facilities1994: Funding of Hospital Medical Library1992: Funding of Bone Tumour Cancer Research1991: Establishment of Professorial Department in association with the R.C.S.I.1989: Establishment of Bone Tumour Registry1988: Building of 2 new Clean Air Operating Theatres

The Foundation’s current and future fundraising efforts will also go towards target-specific developments at Cappagh Hospital; these can be viewed on our website at: http://chf.ie/fundraising-projects/

As a fully compliant charity, we are audited annually by RSM Farrell Grant Sparks and these audited accounts are filed with the Companies Office.

In light of the recent controversy concerning so many well-known charities the Foundation would like to reassure its supporters and benefactors that we continue to be most appreciative of the support we receive. We are happy to answer additional queries; please feel free to contact our offices on 01-8340325 or email info@chf.ie.

]]>http://chf.ie/news/chf-statement-january-2014/feed/0Spring Rafflehttp://chf.ie/news/first-event/
http://chf.ie/news/first-event/#commentsMon, 10 Feb 2014 14:23:04 +0000adminhttp://chf.ie/?p=48The Great Cappagh Raffle 2014 helped us to open an extension to our existing Out Patients/Pre Assessment Department.With an additional 7 waiting rooms, the new area will speed up waiting lists as we are no longer restricted by space/lack of consulting rooms.

Can we call upon your extraordinary generosity yet again?This year’s Great Cappagh Raffle is raising money for a Rehabilitation Gym at our Active Rehabilitation Unit (ARU)

The ethos of the Active Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) is to help patients return to an active, confident and sociable life following a trauma or an acute medical episode. The new customised rehabilitation gym will provide a large, dedicated space for patients to complete their physiotherapy programmes, which will help them return to a more independent life. This new facility will give the patients more space to practice their walking, participate in classes and improve their balance and strength as well as enjoying the social benefits of interaction with their fellow patients and their care team. The proximity of the gym to the unit will also make the gym more accessible and convenient for the patients.To ensure this development, we need to raise €200,000 this year and we desperately need kind people like you to make it happen.

“I was transferred to the Active Rehabilitation Unit in Cappagh following an accident where I broke my ankle.I was in the ARU for 7 months.I had surgery and a personalised physiotherapy and occupational therapy plan which was vital to get me ready to return home.Throughout my stay, the care and attention I received was excellent and the entire team at the ARU work so well together.They ensure that every patient has the very best of treatment.”(Eithne McGrane, Dublin)

The tickets are €2 each or 12 tickets for the bargain price of €20! We have some fantastic prizes for our main draw. First prize is €1,000, second prize is €500 and third prize is €250.

You’ll also see a lucky 13th ticket in each book, which is your own free seller ticket. As a thank you for your support, we will enter all the sellers’ tickets into a draw for a prize of €100.

The Grand Draw will take place here in Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital on April 16th. If you would like to lend your support to this cause please contact us at 01-8340325 or email info@chf.ie to request tickets.

Margaret Cavanagh gives us her perspective on life at Cappagh Hospital

When I started doing this there was no such thing as a clinical specialist nurse. It started when Mr Brian Hurson, an orthopaedic surgeon, returned from America and he wanted a nurse to work directly with him and his patients. So I began my role as the first clinical specialist nurse.

We are very honest with our patients. We tell it as it is no matter how bad it is. But, we only say it once. We know that they understand how serious it is, they don’t need to be reminded. What they need is help to be positive and stay focused on their treatment and recovery.

Our attitude is don’t let it take away any more from you, don’t let it take over your life. We know what it is, we can do something about it: Now this is the plan. That’s our approach until we know any different. We treat all of our patients in the same way. We also are dealing with parents, family and friends and we need them to understand that much as they can’t change this they can help in practical ways.

My purpose is to be there for the patient, they have to feel like they are my only patient. I manage the various aspects of their case like making sure they have their appointments for scans and to see their consultant. And I take care of the practicalities such as dressing their wound or reassuring them over the phone when they leave here, if they have any queries or concerns. You build a good rapport when you have this kind of one-on-one personal relationship.

The great thing about Cappagh and the bone tumour clinic is that you’ll see the same people every time you attend. You’ll always see your consultant, not their registrar or anyone else. We don’t have long waiting times before the appointments; we try to have patients seen as swiftly as possible and get as much done during a visit as possible.

We know that we don’t always succeed but most of the time we do. And we do always try.

I always say to myself that I’m the luckiest nurse in the country because I have the best patients in the world.

]]>http://chf.ie/stories/perspective/feed/0Follow the Leaderhttp://chf.ie/stories/follow-the-leader/
http://chf.ie/stories/follow-the-leader/#commentsTue, 26 Feb 2013 15:54:51 +0000adminhttp://chf.ie/?p=265In this issue we meet Professor Michael Stephens to discuss his long and distinguished career, involvement with Cappagh Hospital and how his Foot and Ankle Fellowship has helped shape a new generation of orthopaedic surgeons.

You’ve had a long association with Cappagh, how did it begin?Well, I spent some time as a registrar at Cappagh but I worked in many places around the world before returning as a consultant. Back in the 1980s, during the doom and gloom of the previous recession, there was an embargo in hiring consultants. So I sold my house and left the country. I first went as senior lecturer to Hong Kong University and worked in the Queen Mary Hospital and the Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital. From there I moved to Cincinnati where I was a clinical Foot and Ankle Fellow under Dr G. James Sammarco. Then in 1989, I was offered the post as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Assistant Professor in the University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas. I decided to visit home before starting in the post and during that visit the embargo was lifted and I was offered a permanent post as consultant specialising in paediatric orthopaedic and foot and ankle surgery. I was very close to moving to the USA permanently. However, I was very happy to come back to a large orthopaedic unit in Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital and also working in the Central Remedial Clinic, The Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. I also was visiting St. Vincent’s in the Navan Road.

What motivated you to offer your own Foot and Ankle Fellowship?Back in the late 80s, this specialised area of orthopaedics was relatively immature; it was in its infancy in Ireland and Europe. There were no people dedicated to foot and ankle, the approach was more general, hip, knee, foot and ankle. However, having worked elsewhere I’d seen the benefits to patients of having a more focused specialisation. Soon I had published the First Atlas of Foot & Ankle Surgery. At this stage I, with others, started the European Foot & Ankle Society and the European Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery and with all these developments it seemed like the logical progression to start a Fellowship. I was aware that there was a demand for this because when I was travelling people would approach me to ask about working with me. However, there was no funding at that time and it was only when it was supported by funding from the Cappagh Hospital Foundation that this became a reality and continued for many years.

What did your Foot and Ankle Fellowship offer aspiring orthopaedic consultants?When I was in a position to do it, I decided to make it a six-month fellowship rather than a year. This allowed me to offer it more frequently. The demand was high as it offered a very complete, rounded experience of foot and ankle orthopaedics across adult, paediatric and paralytic disorders, which was a first.The fellows have come from far and wide and it’s always worked well. The benefit from my side was that I had a high calibre, personal assistant and wherever I was they were at my side. This allowed me to be more productive, I believe, in my public practice. It always kept me up to date with modern foot and ankle surgical research and techniques.

What were the key criteria you looked for when selecting a fellow?The important things for me were that they had reached the end of their National Training and Certification and they were ready to be a consultant. I did have a lot of applicants and luckily I would know many of the people who were providing references so a personal phone call to then made the selection process easy to obtain the Fellow of the highest standing.

Do you keep abreast of your former fellows’ progress?Yes, I hear regularly from most. They also regularly contact me for advice on clinical cases. However, it is interesting that many of them now are running their own Foot and Ankle Fellowships. Things have gone full circle because some of my former Fellows are now taking Irish Orthopaedic Higher Surgical Trainees for foot and ankle fellowship training. This is wonderful to see and a great compliment. Such a diversification is excellent in bringing broader experience and fresh perspectives to Irish orthopaedic practice.

]]>http://chf.ie/stories/follow-the-leader/feed/0Super Powerhttp://chf.ie/stories/super-power/
http://chf.ie/stories/super-power/#commentsTue, 26 Feb 2013 15:20:16 +0000adminhttp://chf.ie/?p=258Erin Power chats about life, her experience at Cappagh and the famous Toy Parade

Erin Power is a pretty, bright eight-year-old. She was born with bilateral upper limb deficiency, missing both arms, and has undergone a number of surgical procedures, regular physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help her live life like other children her age. Most recently, Erin has had surgery at Cappagh to treat her for Perthes disease, which affects the hips, and help her walk more comfortably.

“I had an operation on my hip in Cappagh last week but I was able to come home after it. The doctors and nurse were lovely but the medicine they gave me to help me sleep was so awful I can’t even describe it. I got a teensy weensy bit worried before the operation but I just thought about how things would be better after it and it wasn’t so bad. I even got an extra day off school after it!

I’ve been to Cappagh before to try a prosthesis, but I didn’t find it comfortable, so I decided I don’t need it. I can manage most things without it. Scratching my back is a bit tricky though!!

Another time when I went there to see how they decorated the place they’d painted the beach and the park on the walls; it looks really good. I also went to their Christmas party with my Mam, Dad and Nana. It was great and there was a guy there with a flashing tie that lit up when a balloon burst!! The doctors and nurses there are really nice but their names are hard to remember.

We only moved to our new house a few weeks ago and now I’ve got lights all around my bunk bed that I share with my sister Sadhbh. I sleep on the bottom bunk, which I really like. I’m very good at arts and crafts and right now I’m building floats for the Toy Parade.

Let me tell you about the Toy Parade; it’s on every year and the king sits on the biggest float. Last year, the king was my little toy puppy Quinn and he chose my little toy mouse Cheddar to be this year’s king. Cheddar’s a good name for a mouse, I think. He’s so small he can fit in the top of the float. The Toy Parade takes place on my bed.

I have a real hamster and I used to have a goldfish, Bubbles, but he died of jealousy when I got the hamsters for my seventh birthday. The other hamster broke his leg and had to go to the vet but I’m definitely getting him back. I love playing with the dogs too. My mam has a puppy called Lulu and my dad has a dog called Duke.

I go to a Gaelscoil and I’m in second class and I play with all my friends. I get on well with everyone. We learn everything in Irish. When I come out of school I love to speak English again!

When I come home I play with my sister Sadhbh and brother Finn or I like to play on the computer. My mam loves to play Angry Birds on the computer – but it drives her mad because she can’t get past level six!! “

]]>http://chf.ie/stories/super-power/feed/0Live for Today, Hope for Tomorrowhttp://chf.ie/stories/live-for-today-hope-for-tomorrow/
http://chf.ie/stories/live-for-today-hope-for-tomorrow/#commentsTue, 26 Feb 2013 15:12:20 +0000adminhttp://chf.ie/?p=251In April 2011, Debbie Lucey woke in the middle of the night with a pain in her upper left arm. When the pain didn’t respond to physiotherapy further investigation uncovered a tumour; a stressful diagnosis that would take the young mother on an extraordinary journey.

Debbie Lucey is a 33-year-old mother of two young children and secondary school teacher living in Drogheda. When the pain in her upper arm didn’t resolve following physiotherapy treatment Debbie was referred for an MRI scan.

The scan revealed she had a tumour in her upper left arm, Debbie was then referred to Mr Gary O’Toole, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital. Mr O’Toole arranged for a biopsy to be carried out under local anaesthetic and the results that came back a week later showed that the tumour was benign. Luckily for Debbie, Mr O’Toole said he wasn’t quite convinced by the results and he wanted to carry out a deeper biopsy, this time under general anaesthetic. The results came back that the tumour had, in fact, a low-grade malignancy.

Debbie was scheduled for surgery to remove the affected bone and have it replaced with a titanium prosthetic bone. Following the operation, Debbie’s arm was in a sling to keep it immobile and secure and she then started on a rigorous exercise regime.

Debbie was very ‘taken by’ Cappagh Hospital and its staff. In her own words “At Cappagh Hospital, two people really impacted my life. The first was Mr O’Toole, my surgeon. Mr O’Toole is a wonderful doctor. Not only is he an amazing surgeon but he is such a lovely man. He makes time to explain everything clearly and he never makes you feel rushed. He pulls up a chair and makes time for each patient. I think he is such a genius and I know that my arm might have had to be amputated but thanks to his skills, I have avoided that. I will be forever grateful. The second person who stands out for me is nurse Margaret Cavanagh. Margaret is in my opinion a guardian angel. She is the most caring, kind nurse and patient person I have ever met. She was so professional in every way. But the most impressive thing about Margaret is the time she makes for people. She has to be a very busy lady but despite this she makes time to explain everything, not only to the patient but to their husband and their parents as well.”

Debbie feels that all the staff at Cappagh were so kind and friendly. “The facilities were excellent and the hospital itself was so clean. The catering and cleaning staff also always had a friendly word to say.”

Unfortunately, after the surgery it was found that 30% of the tumour in Debbie’s arm was in fact high grade and as a result Debbie had to begin a six-month chemotherapy course in the Mater Private Hospital. Debbie is also still regularly attending Mr O’Toole and Margaret in Cappagh Hospital to check on the progress of her arm.

Debbie is very complimentary of the huge support from her family “My husband, my parents, my brothers and sister and my family in law have all helped out with babysitting, driving me around, bringing me to hospital for check-ups, ironing and making dinners. I would have been lost without them all and I thank them very much” she said.

Debbie’s advice to anyone who has to stay in Cappagh Hospital is “not to worry. They have the best surgeons and staff in the country. You are in safe hands. There is not a cleaner hospital in the country and you should count your blessings if you happen to fall under the care of Mr O’Toole and Margaret Cavanagh because I do – every day.”

NURSE’S VIEW

Margaret Cavanagh“You have to stay positive. Where do you go if you’re not positive?”

“Debbie has an amazing outlook; she also has incredible family and support around her, which is vital. She’s a mother of two young children and she had to face an awful diagnosis, one that would be heartbreaking for anyone. She’s had to be brave, undergo surgery and eight sessions of chemotherapy.

It’s obviously hit her family and friends hard too. I know they’d do whatever they could for this not be happening to Debbie but they’ve had to stay focused on being supportive, giving her a lift to her appointments, making dinner for the family so that she doesn’t have to worry about it. These things really matter.

Debbie really has that magic combination of positivity, focus and a great support network.”

“The new 3T scanner greatly improves the patient’s MRI experience. The increased magnet or scanner strength allows for very fast scan times, which in turn increases patient tolerance of the scan – particularly with claustrophobic patients, or those patients who find it very difficult to keep still for the duration of the scan due to pain or muscle spasm. Even the design of the new purpose-built scan room adds to the patient’s experience – the room is bright, spacious and airy, and we have had a very positive response from patients regarding this.”